Bone Fractures

If you suffered a broken bone in a work-related accident, an experienced work injury lawyer can help you recover your current and future losses.

Of the five most-common causes of work-related injuries, four have the potential to result in broken bones. Vehicle collisions, falls, being struck by moving objects, and being caught between moving vehicles or parts can all easily cause bone fractures, and workers injured in these types of accidents will often face long roads to recovery.

If you suffered a broken bone in a work-related accident, it is important that you speak with a work injury lawyer promptly. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, personal injury damages, or both, but you will need an experienced attorney representing you in order to collect the compensation you deserve.

15 Common Bone Fractures in On-the-Job Accidents

On-the-job accidents can result in many different types of bone fractures. There are more than 200 bones in the human body, and all of these bones are at risk for being broken in the event of a collision, fall, or other work-related accident. For example, some of the most-common types of bone fractures suffered by workers include:

Rib fractures

Collarbone (clavicle) fractures

Arm fractures

Elbow fractures

Wrist fractures

Hand fractures

Finger fractures

Leg fractures

Knee fractures

Ankle fractures

Foot fractures

Toe fractures

Nose and facial bone fractures

Skull fractures

Spinal disc fractures

Understanding the Seven Most-Common Types of Bone Fractures

Each of the above factures can occur in several different ways. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the following are the seven most-common types of bone fractures among the more than one million adults who suffer broken bones in work-related accidents and other accidents each year:

Avulsion Fracture – An avulsion bone fracture occurs when a fragment of the bone is broken off due to the force of impact or a severe pulling force on the body. These types of fractures are most common in the hands and feet, but they can occur anywhere in the body.

Comminuted Fracture – A comminuted bone fracture occurs when the bone breaks into fragments. Comminuted fractures can result from a variety of types of accidents, from blunt force trauma or snapping of the bone under extreme pressure to a ligament or tendon tear that also involves a fracture of the attached bone.

Compression Fracture – A compression bone fracture occurs when the bone is crushed under extreme weight or pressure. These fractures are common in vehicle collisions, accidents involving heavy industrial equipment, and falls from height.

Impacted Fracture – An impacted fracture occurs when two bones are driven together. These fractures tend to occur under circumstances similar to those that lead to compression fractures, but they result in the bone breaking in a different way.

Oblique Fracture – An oblique bone fracture occurs when the break is at an angle between parallel and perpendicular to the length of the bone. Oblique fractures can result from blunt force trauma, or, more commonly, from an extreme force that results in snapping of the bone.

Spiral Fracture – A spiral bone fracture occurs when the break extends down the bone, parallel to its length. These breaks often occur in a spiral pattern, hence their name. Spiral fractures most commonly occur when a strong rotational force is applied to the bone (i.e. in an accident where the foot is trapped and the leg is forced to twist violently).

Transverse Fracture – A transverse bone fracture occurs when the break is perpendicular to the length of the bone. These types of fractures most commonly result from extreme blunt force, such as being struck in the arm by a falling tool or a large piece of debris.

Bone fractures can also be described as closed or open fractures (depending on whether the broken bone protrudes through the skin), displacement fractures, partial (or incomplete) fractures, complete fractures, and hairline fractures. Regardless of the nature of your injury and how you were injured, if you suffered a broken bone on the job, you should speak with a work injury attorney. In most cases, it will be possible to fully recover from a bone fracture with proper medical care; however, in order to cover your medical expenses (and other losses), you will need to hire an attorney to help you assert your legal rights.

Did you suffer a broken bone in a work-related accident? If so, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits or other financial compensation. To discuss your legal rights with an experienced work injury attorney, search our directory for an attorney in your state or request a free consultation online today.